Optical Measurements of Presynaptic Release in Mutant Zebrafish Lacking Postsynaptic Receptors

Weiyan Li, Fumihito Ono, Paul Brehm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Differentiation of presynaptic nerve terminals is mediated, in part, through contact with the appropriate postsynaptic target cell. In particular, studies using dissociated nerve and muscle derived from Xenopus embryos have indicated that the properties of transmitter release from motor neurons are altered after contact with skeletal muscle. This maturation of presynaptic function has further been linked to retrograde signaling from muscle that involves activation of postsynaptic ACh receptors. Using FM1-43 optical determinants of exocytosis, we now compare calcium-mediated exocytosis at neuromuscular junctions of wild-type zebrafish to mutant fish lacking postsynaptic ACh receptors. In response to either high-potassium depolarization or direct electrical stimulation, we observed no differences in the rate or extent of FM1-43 destaining. These data indicate that the acquisition of stimulus-evoked exocytosis at early developmental stages occurs independent of both postsynaptic receptor and synaptic responses in zebrafish.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10467-10474
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume23
Issue number33
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 19 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acetylcholine receptor
  • Exocytosis
  • Motor neuron
  • Mutant
  • Neuromuscular junction
  • Presynaptic differentiation
  • Zebrafish

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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